Somali president Hassan backs end to foreign-guided transition as he endorses withdrawal from C6+

In a major diplomatic shift, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has for the first time publicly endorsed the dissolution of the C6+ framework, signalling a move away from foreign-led coordination in the country’s state-building efforts.

Hassan stated that Somalia’s path to a stable statehood should no longer rely on international mechanisms, and instead must be rooted in national leadership and internal engagement.

The C6+ framework was established during Somalia’s transitional phase and includes representatives from the United Nations, African Union, European Union, United States, United Kingdom, Turkey, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

It was created to coordinate international support for Somalia’s political development, security stabilisation, and institutional recovery following decades of conflict and state collapse.

For over a decade, the framework played a central role in Somalia’s recovery process, serving as a key platform through which international actors engaged with Somali leaders and institutions.

However, recent tensions between the Somali government and members of the international community have intensified, particularly over proposed constitutional amendments and the exclusion of political opposition from the reform process.

Somali-led initiatives

President Hassan acknowledged the importance of international support in rebuilding Somalia’s state institutions. However, he emphasised that enduring statehood depends on Somali-led initiatives, particularly in the area of security.

“The international community has helped us significantly in rebuilding our state institutions. But where we continue to face challenges is in the area of security. Achieving a fully-fledged Somali state depends on how we handle this,” the president said.

Hassan called on Somali citizens to take a more active role in building effective governance and ensuring national security.

He said that Somalia no longer needs external guidance in decision-making and development.

“Let us do things the world cannot do for us. If we take ownership of our security, the world will stand beside us in rebuilding Somalia,” he said.

The decision to formally dissolve the C6+ framework was conveyed on June 12, when the Office of the State Minister for Foreign Affairs sent an official letter to James Swan, the United Nations Special Representative for Somalia.

No longer in transitional phase

The letter stated that Somalia is no longer in a transitional phase, and that the continued existence of the C6+ structure is now considered “outdated and counterproductive.”

Other Topics To Read

• Somalia
• Somalia
• President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
• IGAD
• African Union
• C6+ framework
• Somalia transition
• Somali president Hassan backs end to foreign-guided transition as he endorses withdrawal from C6+
• Headlines

The government argued that Somalia has developed stable institutions capable of guiding the country without external coordination platforms.

The move has drawn criticism from opposition figures and former diplomats, including former Foreign Minister Ahmed Isse Awad.

Speaking on Saturday night in an interview with Universal TV, Ahmed described the dissolution of the C6+ as diplomatically improper and harmful to Somalia’s international reputation.

He further noted that the government’s dissatisfaction with the C6+ appeared to be related to the group’s outreach to opposition leaders and their encouragement of political reconciliation.

“What angered them is that the C6+ met with the opposition,” Ahmed said. “The ambassadors advised the president: ‘Reconcile with your people. Talk to Jubbaland, talk to Puntland. Don’t change the constitution unilaterally. Unite as Somalis.”